The invention process begins in the mind. An idea is a thought. The invisible realm (thoughts) creates the visible realm (matter). Everything you see in this world—a light post, electricity, chewing gum—began as a thought in a person’s mind.

Mind precedes matter.

Jesus taught meditation. He said, “In my father’s house, there are many mansions…As ye sow, so shall ye reap.” One interpretation of this could be that there are many states of consciousness, many thoughts, which we all carry in our minds.

As ye sow in the mind (realm of heaven), so shall ye reap in the body (realm of earth).

If you plant thoughts of jealousy, you will be jealous. If you plant thoughts of kindness and love, you will be kind and loving. If you plant tulips, you don’t get squash. You reap what you sow. The most fertile soil in the world is the soil of your consciousness.

As above, in the mind, so below, in the body.

Jesus also said, “Finally, Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8). Some versions of the Bible say “dwell upon these things,” while other translations say “meditate on these things.”

Jesus understood these aspects of thought and the importance of training our minds. What we think about ultimately expands.

The Most Difficult Posture

Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Sutras, told us that the most difficult posture is the posture of our minds. The mental posture is the most important pose in yoga.

Being able to come to an awareness of what you’re thinking is the most awesome power you can ever have, because the thought level is the creative level.

Photo: Live Life Happy

Yoga is about asking yourself these vital questions: What do I dwell upon? What are the thoughts that dominate my mental landscape?

Yoga teaches us to pay attention.

“Wake up,” said Buddha.

Buddha taught meditation too. Buddha said, “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we create our world.”

The mind is the creator. The mind’s nature is to think. But yoga has taught me to make my practice of “just thinking” a very intentional practice.

I listened to an audiotape by Louise Hay. In it, she says that science has found that we have about 60,000 thoughts a day. Most of these thoughts include dwelling on the past: “Woe is me…what happened to me…what they did to me…I’m a victim.” If we’re not living in the past, we’re worrying about the future.

A good healthy thought is like a good guest in your home. You want guests to have a good time and you want them to come back.

But you want to entertain the right guests. If people come over and trash your house, break dishes and insult you and your family, you’re not going to invite them back.

We should guard our minds like we guard our homes. Train yourself not to invite unhealthy thoughts into your mind. Don’t let them wreak havoc.

Yoga continues to teach me to consciously choose thoughts of blessing, gratitude, generosity, acceptance towards myself and others, love, tolerance and abundance. These are some of the guests I want to entertain.

Through the practice of yoga, and the practice of clearly setting intention (sankalpa), we become who we want to be. Who we become is our choice.

Invent Yourself

You are an inventor, after all. We’re all inventing our lives, one thought at a time.

You are inventing the person you want to be, whether you want to create a physical achievement (“I am going to be a medalist in the Olympics”) or a state of mind:

I am generous.

I am thoughtful.

I am loving.

I am kind.

I am grateful.

I am forgiving.

Everyone has been given the gift of imagination. We all have unlimited potential to be, to do and to create whatever we want.

Who do you want to be?

What great thing do you want to accomplish?

How do you want to serve the world?

Everyone has a personal ministry. It’s through a mindful yoga practice, paying attention to your thoughts, that you can lay claim to your unique life. Keep your mind on this present moment. In this moment, you have the power to invent yourself.

It’s time each of us became a champion of possibilities and discovered our full potential to love and serve.

Yoga is an invitation. It invites you to invent yourself. This is the beautiful and sacred practice of yoga. This is the promise of yoga.

Sumya Anani is a registered E-RYT500 yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance. She is a licensed massage therapist, personal trainer, and college fitness instructor. She was a professional boxer from 1996-2006, winning four world championships in three weight classes. In 2010, she opened Learning2Fly ~ Aerial Fitness Training, Circus Arts, & Aerial Yoga Center in Kansas City. She has been a contributing writer for Yoga Chicago, Yoga Magazine US, and Yoga Magazine UK. A lifelong learner, she embraces yoga and movement arts with curiosity and passion. Her mission is to empower you to stretch your wings into the fullness of your own possibilities, in mind, body and spirit. Contact Sumya at www.sumya.com.

About elephant journal

elephant journal is dedicated to "bringing together those working (and playing) to create enlightened society." We're about anything that helps us to live a good life that's also good for others, and our planet. >>> Founded as a print magazine in 2002, we went national in 2005 and then (because mainstream magazine distribution is wildly inefficient from an eco-responsible point of view) transitioned online in 2009. >>> elephant's been named to 30 top new media lists, and was voted #1 in the US on twitter's Shorty Awards for #green content...two years running. >>> Get involved: > Subscribe to our free Best of the Week e-newsletter. > Follow us on Twitter Fan us on Facebook. > Write: send article or query. > Advertise. > Pay for what you read, help indie journalism survive and thrive—and get your name/business/fave non-profit on every page of elephantjournal.com. Questions? info elephantjournal com